Anime / Steel Angel Kurumi 2

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The better part of a century after the events of Steel Angel Kurumi, a new generation of Steel Angels (and their masters) come into play. Nako Kagura, 14 years old and in the last year of middle school, is both a shrine maiden at the temple where she lives with her mother, Misaki, and an aspiring cellist. Her best friend is Uruka Sumeragi, the rich girl who lives in the big fancy house next door. She is 15 years old and a high school student. Their relationship is complicated: although they have been friends since they were toddlers, Uruka has recently taken to inflicting casual minor cruelties on Nako. However, this is a smokescreen because Uruka is secretly in love with Nako.

Before Uruka can even figure out how to express her feelings, though, Nako discovers and accidentally activates Kurumi Mark II, a new Steel Angel modeled after the original Kurumi. Kurumi II, like her predecessor, is uninhibitedly affectionate with her new master. This upsets Uruka, who sees Kurumi as usurping her rightful place at Nako's side. Uruka's billionaire father, who dotes on his daughter to a degree that would disgust Veruca Salt, offers his help. First with giant robots airdropped on Kurumi, and later with Steel Angel Saki Mark II, whom Uruka accidentally activates with a kiss she imagines sharing with Nako. Although Saki II automatically falls for Uruka as part of her activation, it seems some of the Mark I version carried over to the new model. The original Saki's devotion to Kurumi remains, and leaves Saki II hopelessly longing for two loves who pay no attention to her.

Things get even more complicated when the spiritual successors to Nakahito activate Karinka Mark II in an attempt to retrieve and "fix" the wayward Kurumi and Saki. But it backfires on them when Karinka discovers the extraordinary strength Kurumi derives from her relationship with Nako. Wanting the same power-up, Karinka abandons her mission and moves in with Nako, Misaki and Kurumi, and contests with the latter for Nako's attention.

Meanwhile, with Kurumi's encouragement, Nako has entered a cello competition. But when the others learn that the prize is a chance to study in Vienna, will the enemies and rivals unite to destroy the dream of the one they all claim to love?

Made by the same creative team that produced the original Steel Angel Kurumi, and for the same anthology series, Steel Angel Kurumi 2 is shorter (only 12 fifteen-minute episodes) and has a much narrower focus. Although the great, far-future conflict that drives much of the first series is mentioned several times, the real core of the action here is the web of relationships formed between Nako, Uruka and the Steel Angels, and the comedy and drama that are born from it.

Coincidental Broadcast: Happens twice. The first time, Uruka watches a TV show about a teacher seducing one of his students and believes that Mr. Kizuki is trying to seduce Nako at school. The second time is when Uruka watches a news broadcast about the winner of the cello contest will study abroad to Vienna. Nako won the contest, but it turns out that she wasn't eligible for that particular prize because it was only for high school students.

Uruka is prone to have these whenever Kurumi does something that really makes her mad. She also has one when she finds out that her father was (unknowingly) responsible for Kurumi being in the same class as Nako.

Kurumi has one when a second humongous mecha appears while she is talking to Nako at school.

Humongous Mecha: Kurumi fights a couple that Uruka's father sends out on the behalf of his daughter. Kurumi ultimately defeats them.

I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Kurumi feels this way when she fights both Uruka and Karinka in order to ensure that Nako is allowed to follow her dream. Uruka comes to the same conclusion at the very last moment when she realize how selfish she was.

Last-Name Basis: Mr. Kizuki. According to numerous sources, his first name is Yutaka.

Love Dodecahedron: In one scene representing Saki's thoughts, a Love Chart is displayed with super deformed versions of the involved characters and arrows indicating who likes whom. It shows that Kurumi and Uruka are in love with Nako, while Saki is in love with Kurumi and Uruka. Later in the series, Karinka falls in love with Nako as well.

Stalker with a Crush: Uruka's love for Nako plays out more like this as the series goes on. This gets to the point where Uruka was willing to kill Nako rather than let her study abroad and leave her behind.

Theme Tune Cameo: Nako's mom is cooking and listening to the theme song on her Walkman while Nako is screaming for help outside.

Token Yuri Girls: The series tops the original with what is either an oversized Love Triangle or a small Love Dodecahedron: Kurumi Mk. II is fixated upon young cellist Nako, who activated her. Nako's friend Uruka also has a crush on her, and out of jealousy activates Saki Mk. II in order to battle Kurumi; Saki, however, ends up pining for both Kurumi and Uruka. Eventually, Nako comes to return Kurumi's feelings.

Tsundere: Uruka. Hostile and taunting toward Nako in public, longing and wistful in private. She softens on Nako in the second half of the series.

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